Bundle-dropper for grain-binders



(No Model.)

J. RITGHIE.

BUNDLE DROPPER FOR GRAIN BINDERS.

Patented Oct. 2

INVENTOR Jwzes Mohd/f UNITED STATES PATENT JAMES RITCI-IIE, OF LITCHFIELD, ILLINOIS.

BUNDLE-i-ROPPR FOR GRAIN-BINDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,401, dated October 2, 1888.

Application filed March 23, 1888. Serial No. 5108.298. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, J AMES RITGHIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Litchfield, in the county of Montgomery and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in BundleDroppers for Graia Binders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to bundle-d roppers for grain-binders; and it consists in the improved construction hereinafter described, whereby a simple and efiicientarrangement is provided that will discharge the bundles from the side instead of rear, as in many prior constructions, the disposition of the dumpingplatform audits connections being suoli that it may be readily elevated to enable the machine to be of minimum dimension in width when it is desired to pass through gate-openings, 85o. The invention further consists in other features of construction set forth and ments.

explained.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view of a dropper embodying my improve- Fig. 2 is a rear view showing the dropper in an elevated position.

The vertical boards A A are secured to the horizontal beams Z Z, and are connected at their inner and outer ends by the cross-bars a b. The boards A A and the beams Z Z form part of the main frame. The harvester and the extended portion of one of said beams Z form a support for the platform-carrying rod, hereinafter referred to. Outwardly and up wardly inclined side standards, B, are secured to the sides of the boards A A, and are connected together at their upper ends by means of a horizontal crossbar, C. On the outer face of the cross-bar I) are bearing-loops c, in which is mounted the straight end of the horizontal inner portion, d, ofthe platform-carrying rod D.

The rod D is a continuous rod, of proper size and material, having the inner portion, d, just referred to, the straight outwardly-extending portion (Zz, leading from the rear end of said inner portion, and the straight outer portion, d', nearly parallel with the portion d,

5o but diverging slightly therefrom, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. IVhen the carryingrod is in its lowered position, the outwardlyprojecting portion (Z2 rests upon and is supported by the projecting end of the rear beam, Z, thereby relieving the strain on the rod K.

The dumpingplatform consists of a flat metal bar, e, which has its sides provided with re-enforeing iianges, to strengthen the same and secure rigidity, and its ends bent down and perforated for the reception of the portion d" of the platform-carrying rod, and the parallel slats or boards E, E', and E2, spaced and laid transversely to the bar e and secured thereto, forming the platform proper.

The slats E El have their outer ends turned up to form inclined stops f, and a small vertical strip, f2, is secured to these stops and ex tends between the same for the sheaves to bear against and prevent their accidental rolling' from the platform. The slat E is shorter than the slat E2, so that the vertical strip f2 eX- tends inward toward the front side ofthe machine, as clearly shown. The slat or hoard E is provided with a series of slots for the passage of the shattered grain. Olne of the ends, e', of the bar c has secured thereto a bracketarm, f', the vertical portion ofthe free end of which is perforated for the engagement of the hooked end of a rod, F, the inner end of which is connected pivotally to the outer horizontallybent end, g, of a horizontal connecting rod or link, G. This construction permits the swinging of the rod F upon its pivotal connection with the rod or link G when the plat form is raised, as will be understood. I also by this means provide for a swinging motion of one of the parts and an endwise sliding movement of the other without binding or an excess of friction.

An angle-arm, H, has a horizontal portion, h, bearing in the adjacent board, A, and its inner part is bent horizontally for the pivotal attachment of the other end of the link G. On the upper side of the crossbaraislocated a staple, fi, which forms the fulcrum for a bell crank lever, I, looped at its elbow to move freely upon said staplefi, and having its longer or near end connected pivotally by a link, J, to the outer end ofthe angle-arm II. The employment of this angle arm I-I insures the ,the inner end ofthe said rod G would simply be lowered without imparting any sliding movement to the outer end thereof; but by the arrangement shown, when the pedal is operated and the link depressed, the anglearrn will be rst acted on and caused to swing, and will in turn act on the rod G, swinging its inner end and causing its outer end to slide in a bracket, M, hereinafter referred to.

The free or front end of the bell-crank lever is bent laterally and horizontally to form a pedal, j, or may have a pedal-plate attached thereto. Connected' to the side of the rod D, adjacent to its outer portion, d', is a jointed rod, K, which extends through an eye, 7c, on the side of the upper portion of one of the inclined side standards, B, near its upper and outer end, and terminates at its one end in a loop, k2, which is designed for ahandle for the driven The rod K is jointed at k', and is provided in its outer joint with a guide-loop, 7, through which the rod F passes. This jointed construction of the rod K gives to it a slight flexibility, which is very desirable, and is also advantageous, for the reason that when the platform is raised, as shown in Fig. 2, the

' the horizontal guide portions m of a horizontal wire bracket, M, extending along the rear side and secured to the outer end of the adjacent board,`A. This bracket, as before stated, serves to guide the outer end of the connecting-rod G in its horizontal motion. Each of the parallel side or end plates L of the binderframe is secured at its inner end to the inner side of each one of the side standards, Band said plates are connected together at their outer ends by means of a cross-bar, N, having depending from its under side a series of vertical hangers, h, which extend below the inner side of the dropper and serve to prevent bundle rolling oft' the platform toward the machine. The lower ends of these hangers are bent outward to form supports h2 for the inner edge of the carryingplatform when the same is lowered. l

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the sheaves pass from the binding table or frame onto the platform of the dropper, the stops f of the same and the hangers h insuring the proper retention of vthe bundles thereon. In its normal position the platform rests, as seen in Fig. l, on the supports h2 of the hangers h and on the outer portion, d', of the carrying-rod. In operation the driver keeps his foot on the pedal to hold the platform from tilting by the weight of the bundles thereon. Vhen the foot islifted, the platform is tilted, as will be readily understood, the latter in tilting drawing with it the rods F and G and the bell-crank lever l. Upon agaiii depressing the pedal the rods F and G and their connections will be acted on to return the platform to its normal position.

Thejoiuted rod K is provided for the purpose of raising the platform up' over the side plates of the binder-frame of the machine out of the way when not in use, as is shown in Fig. 2. This jointed rod also serves to maintain the platform in its raised position, as the inner jointhangs vertically, as shown in Fig. 2, and as before described, and any downward motion of the platform will serve to draw said inner joint up across the eye 7c, when it will act as a stop to prevent further motion, and the platform can be lowered only by raising said innerjoint and allowingitto pass through the said eye k.

The stops f partially stop or retard the butt,

ends of the sheaves when they are being discharged, so that the head. will be advanced beyond the butts. The sheaves will thus be caused to fall on their head ends, while the butt-ends will be carried. over by the impetus, so that the sheaves will be carried farther from the travel of the machine than they would be if therstops were not provided.

A sack or pouch, O, is arranged under the platform-frame ofthe dropper, and is secured, in any suitable manner, to the boards or slats thereof, in position to receive the shattered grain which passes through the spaces between the slats E E E? and through the slots x in the slat E.

It will be understood, of course, that the driver keeps the pedal normally depressed by his foot, thereby preventing undue movement of the rods G and F and tilting` of the platform.

l claim- 1. The combination of the boards A A, the bar b, connecting the outer ends of the same, the platform-carrying rod D, having an outer portion, d, and an inner portion, d, pivoted to the saidbar b, a tilting platform mounted on the outer portion, d', of the rod D, means for raising the said rod, and pivotally-connected rods operated by the pedal to tilt the platform, as set forth.

2. The combination, with the boards A A and the bar b, connecting the outer ends of the same, of the carrying-rod having an inner portion, d, pivoted on the bar I), and provided with an outer portion, d', the tilting platform mounted on the said outer portion, d, of the rod D, means for tilting the platform.` astandard rising from one of the boards A, an eye on said standard, and a jointed rod connected to the carryingrod and passing through said eye to raise said platform and to maintain it raised, as set forth.

3. The combination, with the main frame, of the carryingrod pivoted thereto and having an outer portion, tl', the tilting platform mounted on said outer portion, d', of the carrying-rod, the stops f at the front outer edge of the platform, means for raising the carryingn rod, and means for tilting the platform, as set forth.

4. The combination of the main frame, the carrying-rod pivoted thereto, the platform mounted thereon, means for raising said rod, the guide-bracket on the main frame, the rod F, connected to the platform, the rod G, conneoted to the rod F and engaging the guidebracket, the angle-arm H, connected to the rod,

and the pedal' connected to the afm H, as' [o speciefi.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I havehereto affixed my si gnature in pres-- ence of two witnessesn JAMES RITGI-IIEL- VitneSSeS:

FRANK M. ROBERTS, CHARLIE J. ROSE. 

